South Mississippi Electric Power Association (SMEPA), a generation and transmission cooperative in Hattiesburg, Miss., has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to identify market sources for peaking, intermediate and baseload capacity and associated energy. A capacity deficit of 100 MW is projected for 2011, and needs are forecast to grow to 800 MW by 2021.

SMEPA prefers to obtain ownership in facilities for the acquisition of the capacity and energy, but will consider power purchase agreement approaches.